UPDATED: Expert: Electronic Design Flaw Linked to Runaway Toyotas

A flaw in the design of Toyota's electronic acceleration system prevents the car's onboard computer from detecting and stopping certain short circuits that can trigger sudden speed surges, according to a professor of automotive technology, Dave Gilbert of Southern Illinois University's auto technology department.

As a result, Gilbert told ABC News, the Toyota computers will not record an error code, nor will they activate the "fail safe" system designed to shut down the power and put the car in the "limp home" mode.

Editor's note:We have changed a two second insert shot in the video to the left, showing the tachometer during Professor Gilbert's demonstration.

The original insert shot was taped when Professor Gilbert demonstrated how an induced short circuit could cause the acceleration as the car was in park.

As you will see, the insert shot of the tachometer taped as the car is rolling is extremely shaky, which is why it was not originally used. The readings of the induced surge are comparable.

Auto Professor Pinpoints Possible Car Flaw

A question about the original shot (which clearly shows it was taped while the car was parked with the doors open) was brought to our attention by a writer at the Gawker.com website, John Cook.

"If there was this kind of fault, it will never set an error code," said Gilbert. As a result, he said, there will be "no fingerprints, no trail" when Toyota engineers inspect a car after an accident or incident of sudden acceleration.

In a statement posted on its website Monday night, Toyota said confirmed it was aware of Professor Gilbert's concerns and was prepared to evaluate his car and his methods, inviting ABC News to be present.

Toyota said what Dr. Gilbert demonstrated on ABC World News with Diane Sawyer appeared to be different than what he had originally described to Toyota's engineers.

In its statement, Toyota said based on what it understood Professor Gilbert to have described, "unintended acceleration would not occur."

Dave Gilbert and Brian Ross

Safety advocate Sean Kane, of Safety Research & Strategies, who first spotted the trend of owner complaints about "runaway Toyotas," says Gilbert's tests undercut Toyota's claims that its electronic system is not to blame for the sudden acceleration surges.

Toyota Exec 'Confident' No Electronic Problem

"This is clearly an electronic problem," said Kane, who is scheduled to testify Tuesday before the House Commerce Committee on the Toyota issue.

"The system is fallible, in fact, it's got some really troubling design strategies that are employed by Toyota that appear to be outside the norm. And their system clearly has a design strategy that has a very slim margin of safety."

Kane said the short circuits introduced by Gilbert in his tests and demonstrations reflect what can happen in the real world because of corrosion, moisture, and manufacturing imperfections. "Electronics don't always function the way they're supposed to," he said.

Professor Gilbert said he notified senior Toyota engineers in California of his findings last week.

"They were surprised," he said.

Toyota has consistently maintained there are "no electronic problems" connected to sudden acceleration.